Photo courtesy of Kansas Grain & Feed Association
As the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare for a consequential review of their landmark trade agreement, Kansas agricultural leaders gathered in Olathe on October 22 to underscore the importance of stable trade relationships to the state's farm economy. The roundtable, hosted by Farmers for Free Trade and U.S. Representative Sharice Davids at Kansas State University's Olathe campus, brought together representatives of eight agricultural and trade organizations, all members or partners of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. Participants discussed the mounting pressures facing producers, including rising input costs, uncertain export markets and questions surrounding the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The stakes are considerable for Kansas agriculture. According to new figures released by Farmers for Free Trade, Kansas exported $3 billion in agricultural products to Canada and Mexico in 2025, supporting an estimated 14,600 agricultural jobs across the state. Those exports included $826 million in meat products, $814 million in corn and $355 million in wheat. Although USMCA has provided a framework for North American commerce since 2020, uncertainty over its long-term extension has complicated planning for farmers and agribusinesses. Davids, who supported the original agreement, emphasized the need for predictable trade policies and cautioned against tariffs that could further strain agricultural producers.
For participants, the discussion highlighted how deeply North American trade is woven into the regional economy. "USMCA is not simply a trade agreement for agriculture. It's part of an infrastructure that allows Kansas agriculture to compete, invest, and grow," said Ron Seeber, president and chief executive of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. Zach Helder, vice president of the Agricultural Business Council, described Kansas City's emergence as a major agricultural business hub, noting that the region's concentration of agricultural enterprises illustrates how deeply trade affects the Council's membership, and not always in obvious ways. Said Helder, "It's easy to forget, but the purpose of our trade agreements is first and foremost to limit uncertainty, and only second to reduce the absolute tariff level. The result of the Uruguay Round in the 1990s was in some cases fairly high tariffs, but the tariffs were bound—businesses can work with that and plan for that. Uncertain or unpredictable rates make it harder for our region to plan and grow long term." The discussion reflected a shared concern among agricultural leaders that preserving access to North American markets will be essential to the industry's long-term competitiveness.